Does Lightning Make Noise?
Last Updated Apr 5, 2020 8:58:27 PM ET
Thunder, the sound that follows lightning, comes from rapid air expansion around the lightning bolt. The heat from lightning causes the air around the bolt to reach temperatures of over 40,000 degrees Fahrenheit rapidly. The heated air compresses then explodes outwards, forming a shock wave and creating a loud noise.
Lightning bolts are most often vertical. Their vertical form causes individuals to hear the sound waves closest to the ground first followed by the sound waves from higher up. Rumbling sounds happen when sound waves from different parts of a jagged or forked lightning bolt reach the ears in a series.
More From Reference
Will 5G Impact Our Cell Phone Plans (or Our Health?!)
The Secret Science of Solving Crossword Puzzles
Racist Phrases to Remove From Your Mental Lexicon
Is the Coronavirus Crisis Increasing America's Drug Overdoses?
Fact Check: What Power Does the President Really Have Over State Governors?
Festival of Sacrifice: The Past and Present of the Islamic Holiday of Eid al-Adha